CBI Brings Back Two Fugitives From Saudi Arabia, UAE in Separate Cases

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has coordinated the deportation of two fugitives wanted in separate criminal cases from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, officials said on Friday.

Muhammedali Kanneer Palliyalil, who was wanted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a murder case, was deported from Saudi Arabia to India on July 23. The operation was coordinated by the CBI in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the NIA.

An Interpol Red Notice had been issued against Palliyalil following a request from the NIA. According to the CBI, he was allegedly involved in a larger criminal conspiracy in which a group armed with deadly weapons unlawfully entered a victim's shop, restrained him and inflicted serious injuries before killing him.

After Palliyalil was located in Saudi Arabia, local authorities arrested him and India subsequently submitted an extradition request. Following the completion of legal procedures, he was deported to India.

In a separate operation, the CBI secured the deportation of Avinash Arjun Rathod from the UAE on July 23. Rathod is wanted in connection with a large-scale investment fraud case and was also the subject of an Interpol Red Notice.

The CBI alleged that Rathod, acting with others, encouraged investors to put money into various schemes by falsely promising guaranteed fixed monthly returns. The funds were allegedly misappropriated and routed through several bank and demat accounts.

Rathod arrived in Mumbai on July 23 and was subsequently taken into custody by the Maharashtra Police.

The CBI, which serves as India's National Central Bureau for Interpol, coordinates international efforts to trace and bring back wanted criminals through Interpol channels and BHARATPOL. The agency said more than 170 wanted criminals have been brought back to India in recent years through such coordinated efforts.